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They’re positively fucking GLEEFUL that they’ve got some things they can point to that show their unending persecution with lions and such slightly effective removal from some parts of some government institutions. Half their pastors are using it for excuses to raise more money for hair tonic and plastic boobs for young women who they totally aren’t having sex with Jesus & Co.

Interesting. Abrahamic religions, you’ll note, are rife with ‘you are unworthy vermin’ messages. It’s your proper place relative to the authorities: shutting up and doing as you’re told. Which, of course, makes a fair bit of sense for state religions in authoritarian regimes, so quelle surprise…

… but my, how their followers do pick up this theme, the moment they see anyone outgroup speaking up for themselves. I mean, how dare you question this established order. I mean, aren’t you unworthy vermin, same as me, same as I’ve been told every Sunday of my life? Anything you’ve got this father figure of mine gives you; the cheek that you’d ever talk back…

It’s just one more way such religions, at least, just don’t get along terribly well with egalitarian social systems, I figure, and aren’t ever likely to. The central message and psychology is just so at odds with the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Beneath the god, you are a subject, miserable, dependent. You have, in fact, been told this ad nauseum, conditioned, I figure, to knuckle under to this assumption. In your nation state, in contrast, relative to whichever layer of government, if you live in a democracy, you are a citizen, with responsibilities to your community and nation, and with rights within it, and the expectation you shall be accorded a certain minimum dignity under the law may even be written down in a nice bill of rights somewhere.

I suspect, sometimes, this is the source of much of the vitriol, in conflicts like this. The religionist is saying: I knuckled under. I do what I’m told. I have learned, even, to regard myself with a sort of dependent contempt; as in the most toxic of relationships, I am now convinced I’m worthy only because the god loves my wretched unworthiness. So, seeing anyone standing outside that sick quagmire of self-loathing, and insisting they be treated with dignity, how could I help but be bitterly enraged?

… and okay, yeah, it’s conjectural, and worse probably than a lot of published pop psychology. But like I said: can’t help thinking.

Was going to say you might have a point, and I think that certain Christian groups are becoming more explicitly hostile to the idea of things like human rights and democracy – there’s even a contingent openly advocating for slavery. They were probably OK with these ideas until other people started to point out that they applied to non-Christians as well.

It’s so sad that the selfishness of atheists has led to a persecution like political atmosphere for Christians.

I’d like to apologise on behalf of my fellow atheists for trampling on your rights to control womens’ bodies and persecute homosexuals, to teach fairy tales in schools and make laws that compel non-believers to act according to religious taboos they don’t subscribe to.

Please accept the greater burden of tax that falls on me due to your Church’s tax exemption as some small recompense.

I had the honor of meeting Jessica in person last March at the National Atheist Party/Secular Party convention in South San Francisco. She is an awesome young lady. I don’t do twitter, so I can’t tell her this directly, but maybe she will see this.

Ditto, Islam, which is a minority religion when special-pleading but 1.5 billion-strong when demanding respect.

Those aren’t contradictory. It’s entirely plausible (and in fact, the reality of the situation in quite a few places) for them to be a political minority of a given locale while also exercising considerable power elsewhere. Heck they could, in theory, be a majority of the population and a political minority (as happened to Hinduism in muslim-controlled areas in India, for instance).

The problem isn’t that Christians are a numerical majority, it’s that they’re the overwhelming majority of people in power, and the nigh-exclusive wielders of power at that.